Ability, Not Gender, Is The Issue

October 10, 1992

Hockey goalie Manon Rheaume made history last month when she became the first woman ever to play in a major pro sport league.

Ms. Rheaume broke the unofficial major league sex barrier in a sport not known for gentle ways. She made her National Hockey League debut with the Tampa Bay Lightning in an exhibition game against the St. Louis Blues. In one period of play, she faced nine shots and allowed two goals in a credible performance.

Ms. Rheaume, 20, began playing hockey at age 5 in Montreal, where she dreamed of one day playing in the NHL. She steadily advanced and last year led Canada to a gold medal in the women's hockey world championship, then became the first woman to play on a Quebec Major Junior Hockey League team.

Her brief entry into the NHL -- she most likely will complete the season with a Lightning minor-league team -- was greeted with the kind of hoopla usually reserved for political rallies. Skeptics said Tampa Bay was using her appearance as a publicity stunt to draw fans. Team officials acknowledged the publicity angle, but said they also respected Ms. Rheaume's talent and thought she might have a future in the NHL.

Gender should not be the issue. When any man, or woman, wants to play pro sports, that individual should be judged on performance.

Some say that female athletes will never play on major pro teams because they lack the size and strength to compete with men. Ms. Rheaume, at 5 foot 6 and 136 pounds, is the smallest player trying out for any NHL team. But size and strength are not everything, as some small male pro athletes have demonstrated